Getting a grammatical grip on lay, lie

Published: Friday, April 26, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 6:14 p.m.

In her helpful handbook “Grammar Power,” author Jane Schwartz asserts that lay and lie are “probably the two most confusing verbs in English.” She would get no argument from me.

In fact, the first Times-News reader to respond to my first column (January 2013) requested that I address this mystifying subject. Because of this obvious need for clarification, today I will offer information aimed at easing the confusion.

Let’s begin by considering commonly expressed definitions of the two terms. Lay means “to put or place something down.” Lie means “to rest, relax or recline.” Those definitions clearly show that the two verbs are not synonymous in meaning and, therefore, can’t be used interchangeably. Memorize these basic definitions, and you will be off to a good start.

Lay and Lie not only differ in meaning but in grammatical purpose.

In grammatical terms, lay is a transitive verb, which simply means it must connect with the object of a sentence. (The object is what is being acted upon.) An example follows: Each hour he lays (present tense verb) the pizza dough (direct object) in the oven.

On the other hand, lie is an intransitive verb — one that does not transmit action to an object. Instead, prepositions — among them on, in, at and for — often follow the various uses of lie. For example: Bernard lies (present tense) on (not an object) the hammock whenever he gets a chance. Notice that the verb lies is followed by the preposition on — and not a direct object

One method often suggested for assuring the correct use of lay and lie is to insert (for testing purposes) a similar verb for those two words in a sentence you have written. For example, in place of lay, try substituting the verb put. Original sentence: Henry laid (past tense of lay) the book (direct object) on the counter. Substitute sentence: Henry put (past tense of put) the book (direct object) on the counter.

In similar fashion, try substituting relaxes for lie. Original sentence: Every afternoon, Judy lies (present tense) on (preposition) the floor for 15 minutes. Substitute sentence: Every afternoon, Judy relaxes (present tense) on (preposition) the floor for 15 minutes.

If put and relaxes fit the sentences as well as lay and lie (as these do), then you are using the latter correctly. This simple test helps eliminate doubt about what is correct or incorrect.

The most difficult part of this “sorting out” process arises because the present tense form of lay is, of course, lay, and the past tense of lie is also lay. A present-tense example of lay: Each morning, Jim and John lay the equipment on the benches. A past-tense example of lie: She lay on the bed for two hours to rid herself of the headache.

To remind yourself of this potential problem and to help maintain the correct use of other forms of the two verbs, consider keeping the following information nearby for reference purposes.

** A participle is a verb form that has several functions, one being as part of a verb phrase (e.g., “is laughing”).

This information leads us to the following examples:

LAY (requiring a direct object): Present: Simon lays his coat on the bed. Past: The coach laid the bag of baseballs near home plate. Past participle: Ivan had laid fertilizer across the entire acreage. Present participle: Patricia is laying tile across the kitchen floor.

LIE (for sentences without an object): Present: Rufus lies on the couch when he wants to think. Past: The apple lay on the teacher’s desk for a month. Past participle: The dead branches had lain in a deep hole. Present participle: Sampson is lying in the haystack.

Now, following these examples, try writing similar sentences for each set of these four forms. Your own examples could serve as an invaluable “cheat sheet” as you try to follow through correctly with lay and lie in future writing and speaking situations. Try it!

<p>In her helpful handbook “Grammar Power,” author Jane Schwartz asserts that lay and lie are “probably the two most confusing verbs in English.” She would get no argument from me.</p><p>In fact, the first Times-News reader to respond to my first column (January 2013) requested that I address this mystifying subject. Because of this obvious need for clarification, today I will offer information aimed at easing the confusion.</p><p>Let's begin by considering commonly expressed definitions of the two terms. Lay means “to put or place something down.” Lie means “to rest, relax or recline.” Those definitions clearly show that the two verbs are not synonymous in meaning and, therefore, can't be used interchangeably. Memorize these basic definitions, and you will be off to a good start.</p><p>Lay and Lie not only differ in meaning but in grammatical purpose.</p><p>In grammatical terms, lay is a transitive verb, which simply means it must connect with the object of a sentence. (The object is what is being acted upon.) An example follows: Each hour he lays (present tense verb) the pizza dough (direct object) in the oven.</p><p>On the other hand, lie is an intransitive verb — one that does not transmit action to an object. Instead, prepositions — among them on, in, at and for — often follow the various uses of lie. For example: Bernard lies (present tense) on (not an object) the hammock whenever he gets a chance. Notice that the verb lies is followed by the preposition on — and not a direct object</p><p>One method often suggested for assuring the correct use of lay and lie is to insert (for testing purposes) a similar verb for those two words in a sentence you have written. For example, in place of lay, try substituting the verb put. Original sentence: Henry laid (past tense of lay) the book (direct object) on the counter. Substitute sentence: Henry put (past tense of put) the book (direct object) on the counter.</p><p>In similar fashion, try substituting relaxes for lie. Original sentence: Every afternoon, Judy lies (present tense) on (preposition) the floor for 15 minutes. Substitute sentence: Every afternoon, Judy relaxes (present tense) on (preposition) the floor for 15 minutes.</p><p>If put and relaxes fit the sentences as well as lay and lie (as these do), then you are using the latter correctly. This simple test helps eliminate doubt about what is correct or incorrect.</p><p>The most difficult part of this “sorting out” process arises because the present tense form of lay is, of course, lay, and the past tense of lie is also lay. A present-tense example of lay: Each morning, Jim and John lay the equipment on the benches. A past-tense example of lie: She lay on the bed for two hours to rid herself of the headache.</p><p>To remind yourself of this potential problem and to help maintain the correct use of other forms of the two verbs, consider keeping the following information nearby for reference purposes.</p><p>LAY: Present tense* — lay. Past tense — laid. Past participle** — laid. Present participle — laying.</p><p>LIE: Present tense — lie. Past tense — lay. Past participle — lain. Present participle — lying.</p><p>* Tense refers to the time during which a thought or action occurs.</p><p>** A participle is a verb form that has several functions, one being as part of a verb phrase (e.g., “is laughing”).</p><p>This information leads us to the following examples:</p><p>LAY (requiring a direct object): Present: Simon lays his coat on the bed. Past: The coach laid the bag of baseballs near home plate. Past participle: Ivan had laid fertilizer across the entire acreage. Present participle: Patricia is laying tile across the kitchen floor.</p><p>LIE (for sentences without an object): Present: Rufus lies on the couch when he wants to think. Past: The apple lay on the teacher's desk for a month. Past participle: The dead branches had lain in a deep hole. Present participle: Sampson is lying in the haystack.</p><p>Now, following these examples, try writing similar sentences for each set of these four forms. Your own examples could serve as an invaluable “cheat sheet” as you try to follow through correctly with lay and lie in future writing and speaking situations. Try it!</p>